Bridle-rod.



U. M. SIMPSON.

BRIDLE ROD.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17,1914

1L, lwflm, Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

WWI TNESSE A TTOR/l/E omen,

CHARLES M. SIIWP SON OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIfl-NOR GIFFIVE-SIXTHS TO HOWARD F.

MWITH, 01E HOUSTON, TEXAS.

amnion-non.

rawer.

Specificationof lLctters Patent. I

' Pa tentedlFeb. 9,-15915.

To all whom it may concern:

a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in-,t-he.c'ounty"6f Harris and State passing thereoven.

of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'jn lBridle-Rods of tvhich the following is aspecification.

This invention relates-to newand useful improvementsin bridlerods. V

The object of theinvention is to provide a device of the character described designed to be used in railwaytrack construction for the purpose "of securing the rails of .a-temporary or unfinishedtrack in a fixed position relativeto each other while the; train is other feature of the invention consists in theprovision of means whereby thedevice may be adjusted to .HCCOIHDlQdfltQ-ltiilf to rails of different sizes.v

vWith the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example .of Which is givenfin this specification and illustratedin the accompanying drawings,

position to be attached to the rails.

wherein I Figure 1 is a side elevationof the device secured in position on the rails. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, showing theparts in Fig. 3 is a planaview of the device with the parts in the same position as that of lFig. 2, and Fig. 4-is a sectional end view of thedevice, taken on. the line (Z-fit of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numerals -1 and 2 refer, respectively, to the railway rails, tobefixed in position by the bridle rod.

In track repairing and construction it is often necessary for trains to pass over the track while the sameis being repaired and at times when the rails are not secured to the ties and at such times it is necessary to provide a means for temporarily holding the rails in position while the train is passing thereover and it is desirable that the means employed be so constructed as to be quickly and easily placed in position and removed. For the above mentioned purpose the device has been provided, which will now be specifically described.

The numeral 3 refers to a sleeve, formed of suitable metal which may be of any desired shape but is preferably oblong in cross .inner. end of and 11 pivoted thereto near tending orifices.

section and is provided to receive the inner endsof the respective metallicstraps 4 and I 5, which said inner ends are inserted in the respective ends of the sleeve 3 and are, readily slidabletherein. The outer ends of the respective straps 4 and-Shave thegupturned hooks 6 and7, provided toengage over the outer flanges of the respective rails 1 and 2, as shownvin Fig. 1, whenthe device is .engaged upon the rails. In the preferred form of the device the straps 4 and 5 are flat and each at its mid portion is twisted, or given a. quarter turn, .so that the inner end will extend vertically edge Wise ,and the outer end will extend horizontally edgewise and fit up close against the under side of its respective rail.

Thestrapflt is secured in the sleeve 3 by means of the bolt 8 which passes trans versely through said sleeve and strap and the the purpose of the lengthwise adjustment of the strap 4 in the sleeve 3. This adjustment is necessary because rail flanges differ in width, somebeing wider than others. The straps 4 and 5 have the respective braces 1 their outerends, but on the inner side of the respective rails -1. and 2. The. outer, ends of these braces are slightly ,1 1pturned and shouldered so as to fit closely over the inner edgesof the rail flanges, when brought into alinenient with their respective straps 4 and 5, as shown in Fig. 1. The braces 10 and 11, respectively, are pivoted to their respective straps by means of the respective bolts .12 an d"13- Which. extend through alined vertically ex- The said straps are provided with a plurality of orifices 14: and 15 arranged at different distances from the respective rails 1 and 2, to provide for the ad- I justment of said braces. This adjustment is necessary on account of the different widths of rail flanges, as hereinbefore explained. The respective straps 4 and 5 have the respective rings 16 and 17 slidably mounted thereon and provided to be slipped over the inner ends of the respective braces 10 and 11 so as to hold them in position when engaged over the rail flanges. A U- shaped member 18 is provided, the open end of which embraces the sleeve 3 and is pivot- H I said strap has, a plurality of orifices 9 alined therealong provided for ed to the center thereof by means'of the transverse bolt 19. This member, or yoke,

tic

is provided to engage in the notch 20in the upper edge of the strap 5, when the device is engaged on the rail, as shown in Fig. 1 and locks said strap against lengthwise movement relative to the sleeve 3. When the'yoke 18 is in its engaging position, it is secured therein by. means of the bolt 21 which passes through alined orifices extending transversely through said yoke, sleeve and strap.

The application of the device is as follows :When it is desired to secure the device on the rail, the bolt 21 is removed and the yoke 18 is disengaged from the notch 20. The rings 16 and 17 are. also disengaged from theinner ends of the braces 10 and 11 and said braces turned around at right angles to their supporting strap, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The'device is then placed under the rails and the hook 6 engaged over the outer. flange'of the rail 1. The strap 5 is then forced inwardlyuntil the hook 7- engages over the outer flanges of the rail 2 and the yoke 18 engages in the notch 20; The braces 10 and 11 are then brought into alinement with their respective straps in which position their inner ends will engage over the inner flanges of the respective rails 1 and 2 and said braces are seeuredin position by slipping the rings 16 and 17 over their inner ends. The bolt 21 is" then secured in position and the yoke thereby locked in engagement in the notch 20.

What I claim is 1. A device of the character described including a sleeve, two oblong members whose inner ends extend into said sleeve, a hook carried by the outer end of each of said members, said hooks being rovided to engage over the outer flanges o the rails formmg a railway track, a brace pivoted to each of said members, the outer ends of said braces engaging over the inner flanges of said rails when the braces are brought into alinement with their respective members,

members, said hooks being provided to en-' gage over the outer flanges of the rails forming a railway track, a brace pivoted'to each of said members, the outer ends of said braces engaging over the inner flanges of said rails when the braces are brought into alinement with their respective members and a slidably mounted ring carried by each of said oblong members and provided to engage over said braces and secure them in position in engagement with said rail flanges.

.3; A device of the character described including a sleeve, two oblong members whose inner ends extend into said sleeve, a hook carriedby the outer end of each of said members, said hooks being provided to engage over the outer flanges of the rails formmg a railway track, a brace pivoted to each of said members, the outer ends of said braces engaging over the inner flanges of said rails, when the braces are brought into alinement with their respective members, means for locking said braces in engagement with said rail flanges, means pivoted to the CHARLES. M. SIMPSON.-

Witnesses:

J. W. YEAGLEY, MAY MONTGOMERY. 

